The Magic Of Living Your Truth

Where does magic come from? And, if we’re magical, can we lose our magic? We’re all born magical creatures. We also have integrity right from the moment we take our first breath. You may ask, what does integrity have to do with magic? Well, everything!

However, immediately upon emerging from the birth canal, mainstream society starts imprinting upon us its cultural view points, customs and traditions. Often, they become a kind of law that has been adopted over many generations, even entire epochs in our evolution as human beings, and due to ‘group think‘ we are discouraged from questioning their origin, much less their validity.

Group think happens when the desire for harmony or conformity dominates, leading to irrational and dysfunctional choices, decisions and behaviours simply for the sake of comforming.

An example that comes to mind is the statement that we have probably all used at one time or another: “Oh, I’ll just follow the rule of thumb.”  However, we would never make such a statement if we were aware of its origins: this was what men used to say when they were using a stick to punish their wife!  By law, the instrument for abuse could only be as big around as the husband’s thumb.

Another senseless tradition that comes to mind is why men wear neck ties. Before the advent of computers enabled us to Google our curiosities, I often thought about how glad I am to be a woman, if for no other reason than I don’t have to wear a necktie. Now, I have to admit that I’m “over the top” regarding many time-tested, and supposedly true forms of bondage. I don’t even like to wear shoes that make my feet feel closed in, so imagine my feelings about effectively placing a noose around my neck. Ay, ay, no way!

If men can run the world, why can’t they stop wearing neckties. How intelligent is it to start the day by tying a little noose around your neck ~ Linda Ellerbee

And, that isn’t even taking into consideration how uncomfortable neckties must be in hot and humid climates, or the inconvenience of learning to tie one properly. The list goes on. The irony is this: neckties were part of early uniforms. By some accounts, they were invented approximately 1000 years ago by the Romans, for the purpose of holding up the collar of their uniforms.  Other accounts suggest they were invented by the Croatians, and later adopted by the French, who called them cravats.

There are many differing stories, and no one seems to know for sure how neckties came about, but the point is that these fashion contraptions have been allowed to continue its tyranny through countless generations. No one, except Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic, and the late Steve Jobs, founder and CEO of Apple computers, ever openly questioned them. And me, of course! Humor intended.

Okay, so you are perhaps thinking, what does this have to do with magic, or integrity for that matter?  Barbara De Angelis states that living with integrity is to behave in ways that are in harmony with our personal values and making choices based on what we personally believe, not what others believe.

Now, back to the rule of thumb and neckties. I know there are some cultures on our planet today that do worse, but generally speaking, do you know anyone in an enlightened culture that would think it is okay to punish your wife with a stick? Or invent the idea of wearing a noose around one’s neck? That said, there are countless other examples bearing the same merit, more or less, such as the invention of the ladies’ bustle in the Victorian era (which I will explore, due to my own curiosity, another time).

Living with integrity means: Speaking your truth, even though it might create conflict or tension. Behaving in ways that are in harmony with your personal values. Making choices based on what you believe, and not what others believe ~ Barbara De Angelis

The point is, we need to think outside the box. That’s where magic lives. Every time we relent and go along with ‘time-honored’ traditions that no longer serve us or the greater good, we lose some of our magic. When we’re more concerned about what others think of us, instead of what we think of ourselves, then we lose some more of our integrity. And the goes more magic. The cycle is endless.

Fortunately, times they are changing. We have access now to more information than ever before in our history. It is said that if a person born only one hundred years ago was inundated with the information we receive, individually, in one day, they wouldn’t be able to survive the onslaught. We’re beginning to wake up from the sleepy abyss of “well, we’ve always done it this way.” I say it’s time to think in new terms. We can start by considering what is most altruistic for every single human on the planet.

Wake up, wake up, Rip Van Winkle! Be clear with others about how you want to be treated in relationships. Tell folks you deal with, on any level, what you need and want. Speak your truth with the honesty of your convictions, no matter how you may be judged. Be clear about who you are. Live based on your own truth. The times they are a-changing, and the more personal integrity we bring to the world, the more magic each one of us will achieve.